A deadline is fast approaching for a grassroots effort to get the mayor of Apopka fired from his job.Members of Apopka Citizens for Honest Government must submit signed petitions Friday that calls for the ouster of Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson.Thursday night, residents set up a tent for a last-ditch effort to get more signatures. Thursday night was the last push for members of Apopka Citizens for Honest Government to get petitions signed calling for the ouster of Nelson.RELATED: Apopka city leaders say they have ‘no confidence’ in fire chiefThey’ve been working since April for the recall for numerous reasons, including:”Financial irresponsibility, safety of city employees, turnover rate at the city for long-time employees,” Apopka resident Dennis New said.They’ve received more than 1,600 signatures, but need 1806 by Friday.Nelson says the action doesn’t sit well but:”You got to be able to put on your big boy pants on and take criticism and obviously you can’t please everybody,” Nelson said. He adds they’ve done a lot of great things since he’s been mayor for the past five years.”You take our debt, the debt that we inherited. We’ve reduced that by 93 percent in five years,” Nelson said.Another reason resident Dennis New wants the mayor out is for keeping the fire chief on even after firefighters issued a vote of no confidence in him.”To call him a fire chief is an insult to every fire chief I’ve ever worked with. I spent 35 years in the fire department,” New said. “The chief has made vast improvements. He’s getting out there, he’s doing more things to try to rally the troops around this team effort,” Nelson said.The concerns surfaced following the death of firefighter Austin Duran who died weeks after being hurt on the job.”I won’t say I didn’t have some responsibility in it, but is that (the) reason for me to recalled? I don’t think so. Do we need to do a better job? Absolutely,” Nelson said.Once the Orange County Supervisor of Elections gets the petitions, they’ll have 30 days to verify the signatures, then the group will have 60 days to come up with another 5,700 signatures.”I’ve known Bryan since grade school. He used to be a good guy and then he went into politics and he lost his moral compass,” New said. “Everybody has an opinion,” Nelson said.The petitions are due Friday before 5 p.m. at the city clerk’s office.Top headlines: Why we may be hearing more sonic booms across Central Florida 16-year-old dies after shooting in Brevard County Disney cancels plans to build new Florida campus that promised thousands of jobs
A deadline is fast approaching for a grassroots effort to get the mayor of Apopka fired from his job.
Members of Apopka Citizens for Honest Government must submit signed petitions Friday that calls for the ouster of Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson.
Thursday night, residents set up a tent for a last-ditch effort to get more signatures.
Thursday night was the last push for members of Apopka Citizens for Honest Government to get petitions signed calling for the ouster of Nelson.
RELATED: Apopka city leaders say they have ‘no confidence’ in fire chief
They’ve been working since April for the recall for numerous reasons, including:
“Financial irresponsibility, safety of city employees, turnover rate at the city for long-time employees,” Apopka resident Dennis New said.
They’ve received more than 1,600 signatures, but need 1806 by Friday.
Nelson says the action doesn’t sit well but:
“You got to be able to put on your big boy pants on and take criticism and obviously you can’t please everybody,” Nelson said.
He adds they’ve done a lot of great things since he’s been mayor for the past five years.
“You take our debt, the debt that we inherited. We’ve reduced that by 93 percent in five years,” Nelson said.
Another reason resident Dennis New wants the mayor out is for keeping the fire chief on even after firefighters issued a vote of no confidence in him.
“To call him a fire chief is an insult to every fire chief I’ve ever worked with. I spent 35 years in the fire department,” New said.
“The chief has made vast improvements. He’s getting out there, he’s doing more things to try to rally the troops around this team effort,” Nelson said.
The concerns surfaced following the death of firefighter Austin Duran who died weeks after being hurt on the job.
“I won’t say I didn’t have some responsibility in it, but is that (the) reason for me to recalled? I don’t think so. Do we need to do a better job? Absolutely,” Nelson said.
Once the Orange County Supervisor of Elections gets the petitions, they’ll have 30 days to verify the signatures, then the group will have 60 days to come up with another 5,700 signatures.
“I’ve known Bryan since grade school. He used to be a good guy and then he went into politics and he lost his moral compass,” New said.
“Everybody has an opinion,” Nelson said.
The petitions are due Friday before 5 p.m. at the city clerk’s office.
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